Sunday, June 19, 2011

156 Pounds

(Cupcake counter at Cupcake Royale)

It was the last day of my sugar free week and it was filled with temptations.I have to admit I almost fell off the wagon.After a seven-mile run this morning with a friend we went and got coffee.Where did we go of all the million coffee shops in Seattle?Cupcake Royale.Now they do carry Stumptown Roasters coffee, which is delicious but with rows and rows of sugary sweetness it was definitely mouthwatering in there.Instead, I treated myself to something better, fresh strawberries from the farmer’s market.They were so sweet and flavorful.

(Carrot cake with cream cheese frosting! OMG!)

(My yummy berries from the farmer's market...better than a cupcake anyday!)

Later my parents showed up in town for my graduation tomorrow.We went out of an early dinner at Cedars on Brooklyn.Their Indian food is off the hook and I filled up on fish curry and spinach naan.Of course, everyone (excluding myself) wanted dessert so we swung on over to Molly Moon’s, where we waited in line (of course) for their amazing ice cream.I was tortured by the smell of homemade waffle cones while we waited.I was able to walk away no cone in hand.

(Jon and the folks at Molly Moon's, by far the biggest temptation of the week! Her salted carmel icecream is to die for!!)

Now that my sugar free week is over I do have a few final thoughts.Can someone really be addicted to sugar?To me, it seems like it.As humans, we are innately programmed to prefer the tastes of all things sweet.Even breast milk is sweet.Instinctually, sweet things provide the essential calories and energy that we needed to survive, plus plants that are sweet and not bitter are generally safe to eat (not poisonous).In today’s world we have found ways to make things sweeter and sweeter and have put sweeteners in everything to appeal to human’s taste buds and keep them buying and eating more. In fact, the average American consumes 156 pounds of added sugar a year! Humans don’t need those extra calories anymore to survive and they are posing a problem for many people today with skyrocketing rates of obesity and type II diabetes.

Once I kicked sugar to the curb, it took me about 3 days to get past the “withdrawals” of not having it.The crankiness and mood swings that I experienced in those first 3 days are all the evidence I need that sugar is addictive.

I feel great knowing that I was able to avoid sugar for the week, but it wasn’t easy.I also feel better in general, more clear headed, happier, more energy.I’m not saying that I’m done with sugar forever but I liked taking a break and now that I have I will be more aware of how I feel when I do eat sugar.I also may try and keep my sugar consumption to a couple servings per week, instead of a couple per day.